The South West's public sector has an essential role to play in delivering the sustainable development agenda, and as a major employer the public sector greatly influences the well-being and equality of the region's workforce. Further, with massive purchasing power sustainable procurement policies can have a huge impact in supporting the region's local economies and ethical/'green' supply chains.
Many public bodies can directly support communities to become genuinely sustainable ie healthy, socially-just, productive and living within environmental limits.
Government's aim to devolve power to the local level is reflected by the new focus on Sustainable Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements - both of which are central to the work of Local Strategic Partnerships. The public sector is at the heart of driving forward this agenda - although joined and supported by local leaders within the voluntary and community and private sector. These emerging processes and policies provide a major opportunity to take a more integrated and sustainable approach as we make the shift to genuinely sustainable and resilient communities.
Typical ingredients of sustainable communities include:
- a low carbon, resource efficient approach to service delivery
- a vibrant, low carbon, resource efficient economy which meets local needs for rewarding employment, learning and leisure opportunities
- sustainably constructed (or regenerated) affordable housing
- extensive use of locally-generated micro renewable energy and ‘Combined Heat & Power' to fuel publicly owned sites and buildings, private dwellings and business sites
- local sourcing of goods and services
- a ‘preventative' approach to health and well-being and social care
- a well connected and accessible 'green infrastructure' supporting biodiversity, community well-being and self-sufficiency
- socially inclusion and empowerment - including programmes to involve everyone in solutions to both local and global challenges
- a sense of common identity and of what makes this place 'special'
If you're involved in developing and delivering the priorities of Sustainable Community Strategies you can find further resources in the Shaper's Sustainable Communities module (click here).
